In the last 24 hours, Doja Cat went from one of the internet’s most beloved artists (thank you TikTok) to just another celebrity “cancelled” for something she did in her past.
The drama started over the weekend after video clips leaked of the Say So singer allegedly participating in virtual chatrooms on TinyWebs.
In the videos, Doja can be seen allegedly engaging in racist banter and laughing at racially-charged jokes made by other members of the chatroom. She also allegedly says she wishes she wasn’t Black.
The clips created a massive uproar online, as Doja Cat herself is a person of colour and so are many of her fans. Others claimed they weren’t surprised by Doja’s behaviour, as the award-winning artist has a history of problematic behaviour. Most recently, she was called out for using homophobic slurs.
Her cancellation didn’t stop there. Internet sleuths then dug up an old song of the rapper’s called Dindu Nuffin, which is a racial slur for Black criminals. Many feel this song mocks police brutality.
After a tumultuous couple days on Twitter, Doja Cat is setting the record straight.
In a written statement shared to Instagram, the 24-year-old addressed her nearly 7 million followers. She starts by explaining that she has used public chatrooms to socialise since she was young. She defends herself, claiming that she has never been involved in racist conversations, “I shouldn’t have been on some of those chat room sites, but I personally have never been involved in any racist conversations.”
“I’m sorry to everyone that I offended.“
Doja goes on to protest that she is a Black woman and she is proud, “I’m a black woman. Half of my family is black from South Africa and I’m very proud of where I come from.”
Addressing the song, Doja claims it is in “no way tied to anything outside of my own personal experience.” She says the song was written in response to those who have used the term to try and hurt her in the past, as a way to flip its meaning and claim its power.
“I understand my influence and impact and I’m taking this all very seriously,” she finishes. “I love you all and I’m sorry for upsetting or hurting any of you. That’s not my character, and I’m determined to show that to everybody moving forward. Thank you.“
So that’s that on that.